Monthly Archives: January 2017

When brainstorming landscaping ideas for your yard, it’s important that your yard is both functional and aesthetically appealing. You want your yard to be functional in that you can enjoy activities like grilling and swimming, but you also want your yard to be enjoyable and inviting. Thus, if you really want to make your yard’s landscaping “pop,” consider using elements of color theory in your landscaping.

What Are Contrasting Colors?

Contrasting colors, or complimentary colors, are the colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel. Each pair includes one primary color and one secondary color. The three main pairs are as follows: green and red, violet and yellow, and orange and blue. The various colors, and their effects on people, have been studied extensively. Blue and green are considered “cool,” relaxing colors, whereas red and yellow are “warm,” passionate colors. Violet, however, can be a “cool” color or a “warm” color, depending on how it’s used.

How to Use Contrasting Colors in Landscaping

Contrasting colors, when paired together, offer a natural focal point for your yard. If you want to use contrasting colors as a focal point, consider pairing violet and yellow flowers together, perhaps near an outdoor living space, front walkway, or garden. Color theory experts consider contrasting color combinations to be most effective if used in unequal proportions. Therefore, don’t feel like you have to split your yard equally between violet flowers and yellow flowers. Try, for example, an abundance of violet flowers with some yellow flowers mixed in. You can use this method for non-contrasting colors as well, too.

While pairing red and green plants together might bring back memories of Christmas decorations, it won’t come off as a seasonal design unless you’re using seasonal plants like pine trees and poinsettias. Think of red roses, tulips, or carnations paired with a green lawn or green foliage — they will draw attention to your yard in a more subtle way than a combination of blue and orange or violet and yellow.

Further, consider using contrasting colors when decorating your yard. If you want to add an outdoor living area during your landscaping project, try using contrasting furniture or accessories with your plants. For example, you could place a violet chair (or a violet pillow on a neutral-colored chair) next to yellow tulips.

It’s Time to Get Started

If you’re ready to get started on your landscaping project, contact Blue Tree Landscaping. They’ll handle all of your landscaping needs, in addition to hardscaping, lawn care, and routine maintenance.

For adults, outdoor renovations usually mean landscaping work, installing patios, and adding outdoor dining and grilling areas, among others. But if you have children, and you’re looking to renovate your yard, consider adding some kid-friendly changes. These renovation ideas will make your child want to spend more time outdoors — instead of playing video games or watching TV — which means that they’ll get more Vitamin D, exercise, and use out of your outdoor space.

Have a Designated Play Area

When brainstorming a design for your landscape, be sure to dedicate a specific section of your yard to your child. This doesn’t mean that they can’t play elsewhere in the yard, only that their swing set, toys, sandbox, and playhouse will be in the same area. Make sure that the area is covered in grass, padding, or soft ground if your child is particularly active. If you have younger children, this is a crucial move — it helps you to keep a better eye on them, and make sure they’re safe while outside.

This is also your chance to be creative and cater to your children’s imagination. Maybe you’ll want to include certain trees, shrubs, and flowers to make their area feel like a jungle paradise or a hidden forest. You could also add a hopscotch or four square area, child-sized furniture, a basketball hoop, a volleyball area, or an outdoor chalkboard — it all depends on what your child likes!

Other Child-Approved Ideas

Adding a pool to your yard is always a kid-approved move. If you already have a pool, or want to add one to your yard, consider adding a water slide or waterfall for your child. Another popular option: add an outdoor movie area. This is a great option for kids and adults alike, and will help you to bond more with your child outdoors. You could set up this area in a way that blends with an outdoor lounge or dining area. Further, you could also add a fire pit so that you can make s’mores with your child on nice summer nights — maybe during an outdoor movie.

It’s Time to Plan Your Renovation

If you’re ready to alter the look of your outdoor space — and make it more appealing to your child — be sure to contact your landscaper to discuss your ideas. Contact Blue Tree Landscaping for all of your landscaping, hardscaping, and lawn care needs — they’ll help make your outdoor vision come true.

If you’re looking for a quick way to upgrade your outdoor space, consider installing a pergola in your yard. A pergola offers a great way to elevate your yard all year round, for practical and aesthetic reasons.

What is a Pergola?

A pergola is a type of open outdoor structure, usually constructed of metal or wood, that shelters a section of your yard. This type of structure is often used to cover a walkway or an outdoor living space, and it can be attached to your home or stand on its own. It is often used to create a more private outdoor space, offer shade on sunny days, support vines and other plants, and as an aesthetically pleasing focal point for your yard.

There are many different styles of pergolas, but they all utilize an open design with columns and a “roof” of beams. Depending on the style of your home and landscaping, you may want to choose a modern, sleek pergola or a pergola with an arch or Italian-style columns.

An Extension of Your Home

There are many ways that you can use a pergola in your yard, but they are often used as a private, shaded outdoor entertaining space. You may use it to shade an outdoor dining area, kitchen, sports bar, or a relaxing living space. Your pergola might be designed to be light and airy, or covered in dense vines and roses to create a romantic escape. No matter the design, it can transform your outdoor space by complementing your landscaping, pool, and home.

Pergolas in Winter

The winter season may seem like an unusual time of year for installing a pergola in your backyard. However, installing a pergola in the winter will allow you to entertain outdoors as soon as the weather gets warmer. Still, that doesn’t mean your pergola will be unusable until spring. Thanks to outdoor heaters, fireplaces, and fire pits, you’ll be sure to get some use out of your outdoor living space all year round.

During the winter, a pergola can transform your outdoor space into a type of winter retreat. It’s also a great way to embrace outdoor seasonal decorating. Decorate your space with outdoor rugs and furniture in festive colors, lanterns, strings of lights, wreaths, and potted plants.

How to Install a Pergola

If you’re interested in installing a pergola in your backyard, contact Blue Tree Landscaping to make your outdoor vision a reality. Blue Tree can help with all of your hardscaping, landscaping, and lawn care needs.